Frequently Asked Questions 2026

Communities are Stronger with a Public School

HSD has a structural deficit from more than a decade of declining enrollment, dwindling state aid, and four failed referendums. To continue its operations, HSD has made reductions in staff, postponed needed facility repairs, and depleted reserves. Despite these efforts, and without a major change in state funding, HSD will need to consolidate or dissolve into other district(s).

Reorganization may take two years of planning among local school boards, residents, and the state. During this time, HSD needs to eliminate its deficit and balance its budget, while continuing to support and provide a high-quality education to students. Consolidation offers an opportunity for a public school to remain in Hustisford, which in turn will protect property values and keep families in the community.

In the mid-1990s, the state placed “revenue limits” on public school districts to cap the total amount of revenue that districts can collect from the combination of state aid and local school property taxes. The state adjusted the revenue limit annually for inflation until 2009. After that, automatic inflationary increases ended. One year the state cut the revenue limit by 5.5%. In six of the eight years from 2015 to 2023 the state froze the revenue limit with zero increase for inflation as costs rose. 

The state allows school districts to exceed the revenue limit to help pay operating costs only if voters approve it in an operating referendum. These costs include salaries, insurance, curriculum, utilities, transportation, equipment, supplies and basic facilities upkeep.

Major facilities work including renovations and new construction is funded by a different type of referendum: capital referendums. Like home mortgages, capital referendums typically involve borrowing much larger amounts and paying back loans over 10 to 20 years.

By contrast, operating referendums allow districts to collect more revenue from taxpayers for a specific number of years (non-recurring) or indefinitely (recurring). It is not a borrowing. Hustisford School District residents voted in favor of a three-year, non-recurring operating referendum in 2018. HSD residents voted against a three-year, non-recurring operating referendum in 2022 and again in 2025. 

The most recent April 2025 operating referendum lost by 20 votes. If 11 voters had voted yes instead of no last year, it would have passed. 

In the past year, HSD’s financial problems have not gone away. The state has not changed its revenue limits or state aid funding formula. Like about 70% of Wisconsin districts, especially rural districts, Hustisford continues to lose state aid and experience declining enrollment. The district also loses students to private school choice programs and public school open enrollment, putting further pressure on the district’s budget because the state funding formula is based heavily on enrollment.

On April 7, 2026, HSD is seeking voter permission for a two-year operating referendum for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years, after which it expires. 

The expected school property tax rate (mill rate) is $8.79 per $1,000 of equalized property value for 2026-27 and $8.78 per $1,000 of equalized property value for 2027-28. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay a total of $879 in school taxes the first year and $848 in the second and final year. The owner of a $200,000 home would pay $1,758 the first year and $1,756 in the second. These projections are conservative, based in part on annual property value growth of 2%, which means actual school taxes could be lower depending on local property assessments. In six of the last seven years, Hustisford's actual school tax rates ended up being lower than projected.

TOTAL HUSTISFORD SCHOOL PROPERTY TAXES 

Yes, the Hustisford School District has reduced its budget in many areas for more than a decade. With staffing costs covering the majority of our small, rural budget, we have cut eight teachers, 2.5 administrators and seven support staff positions. HSD cut bus routes, from 5 routes a year ago, to 3 this year. Extracurricular activities have been cut, teachers have foregone raises, maintenance repairs have been delayed, and more costly but critical infrastructure and mechanical replacements have been postponed.

It is never popular to make cuts or delay projects, but it is necessary. HSD will continue to make cuts as needed, as we work to ensure the cuts are sustainable and make sense for our students and future budgets. Cutting programming and other items that have a direct impact on students is always challenging, because we want to offer as much as possible for our students. If we cut too much, it will impact enrollment and student achievement — two things we are not willing to compromise.

If the district were consolidated, the earliest would be the fall of 2028 for the 2028-2029 school year. Between now and the fall of 2028, the district would research and approach a district that would be the best fit, considering what’s best for the students, programming, culturally and financially. The district would need to take official action to consolidate, as would the partnering district. A new temporary Board would be formed to guide the consolidation process, and eventually a new Board would be in place for the new district. More consolidation information can be found here.

Buildings and ground maintenance occurs annually. Here are examples:

• BOILERS:  Two new boilers were installed at the Jr/Sr High School. The new boilers, along with digital controls in the boiler rooms were completed in November of 2023. The boilers replaced the one working boiler in the building.
• ROOFS:  John Hustis Elementary received a new roof due to damage from a wind storm several years ago.
• DOORS and LOCKS:  Interior and exterior doors that were showing their age and no longer functional were replaced at both buildings. After keys and locks were failing on a regular basis, the district updated all locks through grant funding.
• PARKING LOT:  A drainage issue around the Jr/Sr High School was fixed as part of parking lot repairs. Parts of the parking lots need repair again. This is an annual maintenance item that the board reviews to ensure that our lots are safe for our students and staff.
• FLOORING:  A significant investment was made to improve classroom and hallway flooring at John Hustis Elementary. Nonetheless, several areas still need new flooring. The Jr/Sr High gym received updates because it had reached its life expectancy and needed to be refinished. Maintenance is needed to keep the floor in top shape and prevent significant damage.
• NEW BLEACHERS:  The old gym bleachers posed significant safety risks. The new bleachers are up to code and provide needed safety features. These updates were done by borrowing funds.
• KITCHEN and BATHROOM:  The kitchen at the Jr/Sr High was updated to bring it up to code. The district was mandated to provide an accessible bathroom in the commons area. It has enhanced accessibility for our community, students and staff.
• PAINTING:  Both buildings have had new painting.  

Despite these improvements, our buildings show signs of their age, and more significant updates remain. As units and buildings age, it becomes more challenging to maintain them. Parts and units are obsolete, making it difficult to find replacements for fixes.

Over the years some people have questioned if HSD has done enough to improve education. This always has been, and continues to be our north star. We are proud to have made these great strides: 

❤️  CURRICULUM:  We updated our K12 math, social studies, science and social emotional curricula. New reading and writing curricula were reviewed for adoption in both buildings. In high school, English novels were updated and foreign language and agriculture curricula were upgraded. Courses were added across all curricular areas in middle and high school. Advanced Placement (AP) courses were added in social studies, science and math, along with Dual Enrollment and Transcripted courses in math, business, science and agriculture. Youth Apprenticeship options have expanded, and students can enroll in Early College Credit programs.

❤️  TECHNOLOGY:  Technology has been significantly upgraded throughout the district. Students operate in a 1:1 learning environment. In grades PK-2 students use iPads to enhance instruction. In grades 3-12 students use Chromebooks. Students and staff use Google Classroom which allows staff to post assignments and learning tools for students to use outside of class. As technology becomes outdated, the district finds ways to ensure that upgrades can be made by winning competitive grant funding and receiving generous community donations.

❤️  AGRICULTURE AND SCIENCE:  As part of the successful 2018 operating referendum the district made the commitment to bring back the agriculture program. When a new operating referendum failed, the School Board committed to keeping the program as a part of the annual budget. The program continues to grow and offer new opportunities for students in the classroom and the FFA organization.

❤️  EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION:  HSD stopped sending its students to a neighboring district for services and started its own Early Childhood Special Education program. Not only do students get to stay in their home school, it is a long-term cost savings for the district.

❤️  3K, 4K AND KIDS CLUB CHILD CARE:  The district refocused the Kids Club program and provides afternoon child care services for any student in the morning 3K and 4K programs, as well as after-school for students in grades K-5. The district received a grant to help support the development and implementation of a 3K program. This provides a low-cost, high-quality, pre-school program for 3-year-old children and expanded child care services.

❤️  EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:  The district began offering Track and Field for High School students after students indicated an interest. Middle School girls got a new opportunity to participate in a school-sponsored softball team, to help build a program that we have struggled with in the past.

❤️  ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL:  The Sr. High School provides an alternative program for students with opportunities for growth and academic success. This helps meet the needs of all students.